Secret ditcher.



(5. K. SWEENEY.

SECRU DITQHER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I. ms,

1 ,160.,549. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

erarns raran ermion.

SECRET DITCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentefl 1 15 Application filed June 1, 1915. Serial No. 31,412.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that L'GEORGE K. SWEENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghent, in the county of Raleigh and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Secret Ditchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in that class of devices known as mole plows-and pipe layers and it has for its objects among others to provide a simple .and improved device of this character in which the beam and foot piece are in one integral structureor element and the colter secured to the beam at the upper end and extended through the bit at the lower end and affixed to the foot piece whereby great strength and durability are assured, and by arranging the bit at the front I make the draft lighter.

The device is provided with a gage wheel for gaging the depth of the ditch. The pipe is rigidly attached and is easily detached, and carried by a flexible member'extending rearwardly from the foot piece.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figural is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my present invention with a portion broken away and in section. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bit removed. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the different views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a beam having at its forward end a clevis or the like 2 for the draft attachment and at its rear end having formed integral therewith the curved foot piece 3, the extreme lower end of which extends forward and substantially parallel with the beam, as shown.

4 are handles, one only being shown, the two being connected by a cross bar 5, as seen in Fig. 1, the lower forward ends of the handles being bolted to the beam, as seen at 6, and having connected therewith, as at 7, intermediate their ends, the brace 8, the lower end of which is afiixed to the drawn along.

beam, as at 9, near the junction of the body portion of the beam and the foot piece 3.

10 is a gage wheel carried by a support 11 which isadjustable vertically in a holder 12 which also is lengthwise adjustable on the beam, being held in adjusted positionsby the set screw or the like 13, as will be read- 11y understood upon reference to Fig. 1.

14 is a bit tapered, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, having in its under side the vertical longitudinal slot or passage 15 in which the forward lower end of the foot piece is received, being secured therein by bolts or the like 16. which pass through openings 17 in the bit. The bit has in its upper face a socket 18 in which is received the lower end of the colter 19 secured by means of a boltv Pivotally mounted, as at 23, to the foot piece 3 near its lower end is aclevis 24: to which. is attached a chain 25, the other end of which carries a clevis 26 in which a section of pipe 27 is detachably fixed in any suitable manner, as by means of a vertical bolt 28, as seen clearly in Fig. 1.

With the parts constructed and arrange substantially as described and operation will be clearly understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings. The blind ditch can be made any depth required under the ground, inv the kind of soil where V the water usually stands, from "eiglit" to twenty-four inches. The deeper the ditch, the more power is required, but, in practice,

with a bit about two inches in diameter and six inches in length I have made a ditch fifteen inches deep with one team of horses.

Different soils require different size of bit. These bits are easily detachable from the foot piece. As the device is drawn along, the colter splits the soil, the colter being arranged to hold the bit firmly to the desired point and by reason of its sharp front simply cuts the sod and allows it to drop back close into its normal position so that it is hardly noticeable after the incision has been made.

If the pipe is to be laid, sections may be added as may be desired as the pipe 27 is Modifications in details may be resorted.

to Without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

It is deemed important that the bit be tapered and rounded upon its under side and that the arms of the colter and footpiece be independent of each other and that the colter be secured to the bit within a socket in the upper face of the bit and that its lower end rest upon the top of the end of the foot-piece within the bit, as shown in Fig. 1,,as by this means the colter may be removed without disturbing the footpiece, or vice versa, and it has been found that this disposition of parts provides the strongest structure possible and the footpiece and colter coact to brace the parts so as to enable them to withstand the greatest strain'and they also are prevented from displacement or shifting of positions relatively to each other.

What is claimed as new is In a device for the purpose described, a beam having an integral curved foot-piece, handles secured to said beam, braces con- .necting the handle with the beam near the junction of the foot-piece with the body portion of the beam, a bit having a vertical longitudinal slot in its rear end, closed at the top and receiving the forward end of the foot-piece, a colter secured at its upper end to the beam adjacent the connection of said braces therewith and at the other end received in a socket in the upper face of the bit communicating with said slot with the lower end of said colter bearing against the end of the foot-piece Within said slot, transverse means securing the bit and inclosed end of the foot-piece, and independent transverse means securing the lower end of the colter to the bit within said socket, the lower end of the colter bearing against the upper face of the portion of the foot-piece within the slot of the bit.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE K. SWEENEY. Witnesses:

G. C. SWEENEY, I L. D. SWEENEY. 

